Bottle holder



Novglo, 1942. E, KQQNTZ 12,301,2f6

BOTTLE HOLDER v 'Filed Nov. 4, 1940 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITED"STATES PATENT ,i

BOTTLE HOLDER Y 'l Edgar J. Koontz, Richards, Mo. Y Application November4, 1940, Serial No. 364,231

- 4 Claims.

My inventionrelates to improvement inbottle holders, and the primaryobject of my invention is to provide a novel means for holding bottles,vials, test tubes and similar containers of liquids, in a stable andupright position.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means whereby theholder automatically adjusts itself'to bottles of various shapes andsizes and applies a strictural, frictional grip thereto. v

Another object is to provide efficient, linterchangeable holders,capable of easy and rapid application and attachment to, and detachmentfrom, bottles and similar containers of liquids; and means for attachingthe holders toa rigid frame. l o

Other objects and advantages will be apparent, to those skilled in theart, during the course of the following descriptions.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application,likenumerals areA employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bottle holder, in position, andfrictionally engaging a bottle; the sheet rubber member being attachedto the rigid frame and having radial slits forming an opening to receivethe bottle.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rigid frame, the rubber grippingmember being removed therefrom. Y l i Figure 3 is xa-plan view of thesheet rubber gripping member, shown in Fig. 1, apart from the rigidframe member, showing its structure.

Figure 4 is a plan view of modied form of a rubber strand type ofgripping means, apart from the rigid frame, showing its structure.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of a sheet rubber grippingmember having two sets of crossed parallel slits, shown apart from therigid frame.

'I'he rubber gripping members, as thus shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 areof different structure, being interchangeable on the rigid frame,performing the same functions but increasing the range and scope ofadaptability to bottles of various sizes. The rubber strand grippingmeans being adapted to larger bottles. The structure of these grippingmembers provide a means for attaching them to, and detaching them from,both the rigid frame and the bottle.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown, inFig. 1, a preferred embodiment of my bottle holder, but which is not tobe considered a limitation thereof, the numeral -5 designatesthe'holding, gripping members. i' f C Referring nowto Figure 2, therigid frame 6, formed of metal or other suitable material, has aplurality of upstanding members or posts' l suitably spaced apart aboutthe peripheryof 6. The extremes or terminal ends of these posts arefashioned to hold and support the'rubber gripping members, by providingthem'with hooks, as shown.

The members 'l support the gripping rubber member 5 at the desireddistance above the base of support so `that its grip is applied at thedesired distance above the base of thebottle,

Again,'the `members 'lprovide a means jfor quickly. and securelyattaching the gripping members 5 to the rigid frame 6. i.

Also the members 1 are spacedsuflicient distances apart to provide ameans for holding the gripping members' 5 taut andsecured to the rigidframe 6, while the holder is in use.

In Figures 3 and 5= the grippingmember 5 comprises a section ofrelatively thin elastic sheet rubber, having aplurality of radial slits`l I, in Fig. 3, and in Fig. 5, two sets of crossedparallel slits II,through the rubber, in the central area' of the gripping membery 5,forming a central opening 9 for receiving a bottle 8. A stricturalgrippingengagement*with a bottle is provided bythis means. There arealso provided a pluralityyofopenings I 0, spaced apart about theperiphery, whereby members 5 may be attached to the posts 1 of the rigidframe 6.

In Figure 4 the gripping means consists of 35 two ring-like rubberbands, and comprised of a pair of parallel rubber strands 5, spacedapart, and joined in loops l2 at their ends, and crossing another pairof similar parallel rubber strands, similarly spaced apart, at an anglesuch as to form the central opening 9 for receiving a bottle 8, theloops I2 respectively engaging and being held taut by the posts 1, asstated. It is noted that when a. bottle 8 is fitted into this opening astrictural gripping engagement with the bottle is obtained by reason ofthe elastic property of rubber held taut by the posts 1, and because theopening 9 is of less diameter than that of the bottle 8. Thus thegripping means is firmly and securely attached to the bottle.

The periphery of the frame 6 is of greater breadth than that of the baseof the bottle to be supported, thereby rendering it more stable and lesseasily tipped over with the loss of its contents and damage to clothingor furnishings. 55 The rigid frame 6, as shown in Figure 2, is circularin form, but it is to be understood that other suitable coni'lgurationsmay be employed such as a rectangle or hexagon. In the sheet rubberforms, shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the slits I I, form tabs or flaps, whichnormally close the opening formed by the slits. The lengths of the slitsH are such that the opening formed, when the container is insertedtherethrough, is expanded to the diameter of the base of the container,and the tabs or aps Will embrace said base, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the frame 6 has four posts 'l whichrespectively extend through the four openings I0, formed by the crossingof the rubber ring like bands 5. Diametrically opposite posts 1 arespaced a sufficient distance apart to stretch taut the rubber bandswhich areV engaged by them.

In operation, with the bottle 8 resting on a support, not shown, theframe B and sheet rubber 5 are moved atwise downwardly, with the upperend of the neck of the bottle contacting the under side of the tabs ofilaps, until the frame 6 rests on the bottle support, at which time, thesheet rubber member, through its tabs or flaps, will embrace and holdthe bottle upright.

In the form, shown in Fig. 4, the rubber bands 5 being mounted, as hasbeen described, on the frame 6, a similar procedure is employed, theneck of the bottle being inserted through the opening 9.

The sheet rubber member 5 and the crossed rubber ring bands when somounted on the frame 6, as described, form elastic means for grippingand holding the container upright. When so mounted, the sheet rubbermember and the rubber bands extend flatwise across the opening of thering-like frame 6.

As shown in Fig. 3, the radial slits, or crossed diametrical slits, are,preferably, of like length, to form a near circular hole.

By employing these materials in combination, and with their designatedstructures and relations, an eicient, durable and inexpensive bottleholder, having a Wide range of automatic adaptability is formed.

Having thus described the present invention, what is desired to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a holder for a bottle or similar container,

a rigid ring-like frame of greater breadth than that of the base of thecontainer to be held, and

having posts, and elastic means extending flatwise across the openingthrough said frame, and having an opening of less breadth than andadapted to receive the base of the container, and having openingsthrough which said posts respectively extend, said posts having holdingengagement with said elastic means and being spaced suiicient distancesapart that they hold taut said elastic means.

2. In a holder for a bottle or similar container, a rigid frame ofgreater breadth than that of the base of the container to be held, anelastic sheet rubber member extending flatwise across said frame andhaving in its middle portion crossed slits forming tabs or flapsnormally closing an opening made by said slits, said opening beingsmaller than the base of the container but sufficiently expansible Vtoreceive the base, and means for holding said member taut and attached tosaid frame.

3. In a holder for a bottle 0r similar container, a rigid ring-likeframe of greater breadth than that of the base of the container to beheld, and having peripherally arranged posts, and an elastic sheetrubber member extending flatwise across the opening through said frameand having openings through which said posts respectively extend, saidposts being spaced suicient distances apart to hold taut said elasticmember, said elastic member having in register With said opening crossedslits forming tabs or iiaps normally closing the opening made by saidslits, the last named opening normally being smaller than the base ofthe container but expansibleto receive said base therethrough, when saidtabs or iiaps will grip the base. l

4. In a holder for a bottle or similar container, a rigid frame ofring-like form, of greater breadth than that of the base of thecontainer to be held, and having four peripherally arranged posts, andtwo elastic ring-like rubber bands crossing each other ilatwise, thusforming a central opening normally smaller than but expansible toreceive the base of the container, and forming four openingsV arrangedaround said central opening, said crossed bands extending flatwiseacross said frame and said posts extending respectively through saidfour openings and engaged by the inner ends of said bands, said postsbeing spaced sufficient distancesapart to hold said bands taut.

' EDGAR J. KOONTZ.

